Rotary refiner



July 12, 1949. A ARPlN, JR 2,475,869

ROTARY REFINER Filed Jan. 12, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet l [my E172 4:4 EDMUNDP An m JR.

July 12, 1949. ARPIN, JR 2,475,869

ROTARY REFINER Filed Jan. 12, 1946 '5 Sheets-Sheet 2 [17.27am T :1-

Eamuno P Anpm JR.

July 12, 1949. ARPlN, JR 2,475,869

ROTARY REFINER Filed Jan. 12, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 lll ggzzii KgPhtented July 12, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROTARY REFINER EdmundP. Arpin, Jr., Neenah, Wis. Application January 12, 1946, Serlal No.640,734

10 Claims.

This invention relates to a rota;y refiner for the refining of wet,fibrous material, such as pulp, paper stock and the like.

In my prior Patents Nos. 1,689,190, dated Octobcr 30, 1928, and1,714,752, dated May 28, 1929, I have described and claimed rotaryrefiners wherein a plurality of kidney-shaped refining elements arerotated within an abrasive-lined cylindrical shell for reaction with theabrasive lining in the refining of fibrous material. In the patentedapparatus, the rotary refining elements were caused to bear against theabrasive lining under the action of centrifugal force, and the fibrousmaterial was caused to force its Way between the surfaces of the rotorelements and shell lining under the action of pumping vanes attached tothe rotor. Such an arrangement had the drawback that if the refiner wererun empty or if the fibrous material was unable to force its way betweenthe refining surfaces of the rotor elements and lining, a considerablewear of the refining surfaces would take place and thesesurfaces mightbecome glazed or otherwise injured. These difficulties, of course, wouldbe increased if the rotor elements were to be revolved about ahorizontal shaft, instead of a vertical one, since with a horizontalshaft the lower rotor elements \vould always be bearing more heavilyagainst the abrasive lining due to gravity action, while the uppermostrotor elements, if the rotor were motionless, would drop away from theabrasive lining.

In accordance with my present invention, a rotary refiner possessingsome of the general characteristics of my patented devices is soconstructed that whether the axis of the rotor is vertical orhorizontal, a minimum operating clearance is always provided between thesurfaces of the rotor elements and the surface of the abrasive lining ofthe shell, or stator. This resuit is accomplished by the provision ofhollow box-like housings secured to the shaft of the rotor and havingpivotal connections to the leading and trailing portions of each of therotor elements. A pivot pin secured in one of the boxlike housingsprovides a pivot for the leading portion of each of the rotor elements,while the trailing portion of each of the rotor elements is pivotallyconnected to one end of a pivotally fulcrumcd lever assembly. The otherend of each of the lever assemblies is pivotally connected to a pin, orrod, that extends radially into the interior of a hollow shaftconstituting the rotor shaft. Wedge-like members movable within thehollow shaft are externally operable to force the 2 radially extendingpins outwardly and thus limit the amount of minimum clearance providedbetween the cooperating surfaces of the rotor elements and the abrasivelining of the shell.

My novel construction thus provides for a full range of adjustment ofthe rotor refining elements while the machine is in operation. This isobviously a great advantage inasmuch'as in the case of the older designsthe machine had to be stopped in order to adjust the operatin clearancesbetween the rotor elements and the abrasive lining of the shell in orderto make any fine adjustment or any considerable adjustment to compensatefor appreciable wear on the abrasive surfaces. A further advantage of mypresent construction is that brought about by a reduction in the weightof the refining abrasive elements of the rotor as well as by a greaterease of replacement of the-rotor elements.

In addition, my present construction includes the provision of feedplates, one at the outlet end of the refiner and at least oneintermediate the ends, which feed plates can be adjusted to properlyposition the peripheral apertures of said r feed plates relative to theleading surfaces of the rotor elements. Means extending from one end ofthe shell of the rotary refiner are provided for separate adjustment ofthe several fed plates so as to get an optimum feeding of the pulp orother fibrous material through the refiner.

It is therefore an important object of this invention to provide arotary refiner for use in the refining of fibrous material such as woodpulp and the like, wherein means are provided for maintainin a minimumclearance between the abrasive surfaces of the rotor elements and thestator, and wherein such minimum clearance can be adjusted during theoperation of the machine without interfering with such operation.

It is a further important object of this invention to provide a rotaryrefiner comprising a stationary shell having a cylindrical abrasiveliner and a, rotor including centrifugally acting rotor elements havingabrasive surfaces for cooperation with the abrasive lining to bringabout the desired refining action wherein externally operable means areprovided for adjusting the minlmum clearance between sets of the rotorelements-and the abrasive lining to thereby insure a proper refiningaction for different kinds and characters of fibrous material.

.It is a further important object ofthis invention to provide a rotaryrefiner adapted to be installed with its axis in a horizontal positionand having an intake and an outlet for fibrous mate- 3 rial and aplurality of feed plates for guiding Figure 2 is an enlarged sectionalview taken the flow of fibrous material between the refining.

substantially along the line 11-11 of Figure 1 s with parts inelevation.

Figure 3 isan enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the lineIII-J11 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantiallyalong the line IV-IV of Figure 2. As shown on the drawings:

The reference numeral I0 (Fig. 1) indicates generally a rotary refinerembodying the principles of my invention. Said rotary refiner'lnincludes a generally cylindrical shell, or casing II, which is supportednormally in horizontal position upon suitable supports I25. The shell IIis provided at each of its ends with an end plate, the end plate at theintake being indicated by the reference numeral l2 and that at theoutlet being indicated by the reference numeral I3. The end plate I2 isoutwardly dished and provided with an inlet I4 and with a. centrallypositioned annular boss I5 defining an opening for receiving a hollowshaft I6, with reference .to which the shell and end plates I2 and I 3are stationarily mounted. Said shaft I 6 is adapted to be driven by agrooved pulley I1. The end plate I3 is similarly formed with anoutwardly dished portion having an outlet opening I8 and an annular bossI9 surrounding the hollow shaft IS. The ends of the cylindrical shell IIare flanged as at and 2|, for receiving bolts 22 and 23 that serve tosecure the end plates I3 and I2, respectively, in place.

The shell II is provided internally with a sectional liner 24, which isformed of suitable abrasive material, such as stone, metal, or asynthetic ceramic of an abrasive type. The interior surface of theabrasive lining 24 may suitably be provided with grooves 25 that extendlongitudinally in equispaced helical rows. The lining may, of course. bemonolithic, but is prefererably formed in ring sections that abut eachother except where spaced apart to provide for the reception of a feedplate, such as the feed plate 26 (Fig. 1).

The hollow shaft I6 is mounted at each of its extended ends in bearingmountings 21, which support the shaft for rotation. Packing glands 28provide seals between the rotary driven shaft I6 and the stationary endplates I2 and I 3. The shaft I6 and the parts carried thereby aresometimes hereinafter referred to as the rotor, while the shell I I,lining 24 and end plates I2 and I3 are sometimes referred to hereinafteras the stator. The rotor will now be more fully described.

A plate 29 is secured upon the hollow shaft IS on the inside of theintake end plate I2. Said with radially extending vanes an impeller tothrow fibrous material introduced into refiner through the intake I4outwardly for introduction into the interior of the refiner. The vanes30 lie inside of the dished portion of the end plate I2 and conformclosely to the curvature of said dished portion, but with clearances, asat 3I, to afford passages for the fiow of stock around the perimeter ofthe plate 29. A threaded ring 32 mounted upon a threaded portion of theshaft I6 serves to position the plate 29 in place on the shaft.

At the outlet end of the refiner there is mounted a feed plate 33, whichis in general similar to the feed plate 26 and which will be describedin greater detail later on. Said feed plate 33 is mounted upon the shaftl6 by means of a sleeve 34, which permits relative rotation-of saidplate 33 with respect to said shaft I6 except when the plate 33 islocked in place thereon. The plates 28 and 33 serveasstock fiowregulating plates, as will be described more fully hereinafter.

A plurality of hollow box-like housings 35 (Figs. 1 and 2) are mountedalong the shaft I6 between the centrally positioned fiow regulatingplate 26 and the plate 29 at the intake end, and between said plate 26and the flow regulating plate 33 at the discharge end of the refiner.Each of said housings 35 comprises a hub portion 36 that is mounteddirectly upon the shaft I6 and keyed thereto for rotation therewith as aunit. Spaced side plates 31, 31, which are generally rectangular inshape, extend radially outwardly from the hub portion 36 of each of thehousings 35. Each housing 35 serves to support'a rotor element indicatedas a Whole by the reference numeral 38.

Each rotor element 38 comprises a refining element proper 39 and abacking plate 40. The refining element proper is formed of stone, metal,or some synthetic abrasive material of a ceramic type and is providedwith an arcuate shaped outer or working face, a major portion of whichis segmental cylindrical to substantially conform with the curvature ofthe abrasive lining 24. The leading surface of each refining element 39,however, is formed upon a lesser radius of curvature to provide a curvedleading surface, as at M (Fig. 2), which serves to guide the fibrousmaterial between the generally conforming surfaces of the rotor elementsand the abrasive lining of the shell.

Each of the backing plates 40, as best shown in Figure 4, comprises anintegralside and end portion 42, and a separate side portion 43, the twoside portions havin reversely inclined inner walls to provide adove-tailed groove, or recess, 44, for receiving and anchorin a,similarly shaped strip formed on the refining elements 39. The

ing plate 40 by means of bolts 45. Adhesive cushioning material 46 mayline the reentrant side walls of the groove 44 to obviate the necessityof a close fit between the corresponding surfaces of the refiningelements 39 and of the backing plates 40.

Each of the backing plates 40 is provided adjacent its leading edge withinwardly extending spaced cars 41 (Fig. 2), which are apertured to ancefor the ears 41, and a transversely extending web portion 5I extendsbetween the spaced plates 31 of each housing a conforming to thecut-away portion 50. The lugs 49 may be formed portions 5|.

The other, or trailing, end of each of the backing plates 48 is providedwith a pair of inwardly extending ears 52 (Fig. 2), in which is fixed apivot pin 53. A link 54, connected at one end through the pivot pin 53with the ears 52. is connected at the other end by means of a pivot pin55 to a bifurcated end 58 of a rocking lever 51. Each rocking lever 51is fulcrumed intermediate its ends upon a pin 58 extending between andfixed in the spaced plates 31 of a box-like hollow housing 35. Eachrocking lever 51 isalso provided with a second bifurcated end, indicatedat 59, which is apertured to receive bushings 8'1 (Fig. 4). A pin 6|extends through and is swivelly mounted in the bushings .68. Upon eachof the pins BI is mounted a reduced end 82 of a radially extending rod83, the other, or inner, end 64 of which passes through a hub portion 38and the wall of the hollow drive shaft l8 into the interior of saiddrive shaft. The inner end 84 of each rod 63 is tapered for a purposethat will later appear.

A spring 65 (Figs. 2 and 4) is associated with each of the rotorelements 38 for normally urging said rotor elements outwardly intocontact with the inner surfaces of the abrasive lining 24. Each spring85 comprises a relatively thin strip of metal with a flat end 68,anchored to a web portion 5|, and with a bowed free end portion 6!bearing against the inner side of a backing plate 48. The main purposeof the springs 65 is to prevent the rotor elements 38 from droppin awayfrom the abrasive lining 24 when the refiner is stationary, as wouldotherwise occur in the case of the uppermost rotor elements while therefiner is not in motion.

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention, there are four rotorelements 38 in each set and each pair of adjacent sets of rotor elementsis provided with mechanisms whereby the rotor elements in that pair maybe simultaneously adjusted to give the desired amount of minimumclearance between the working faces of the rotor elements and of thelining 24. The clearing adjusting mechanism will now be described.

As previously stated, the hollow driven shaft |6 terminates at one endin the bearing housing 2'! adjacent the intake end. A cylindrical casing68 is supported from the stationary part of the bearing housing 21 toprovide a stationary extension for housing the adjusting mechanism,indicated generally by the reference numeral 69, mounted within thehollow shaft I8. Said adjusting mechanism 89 (Fig. 1) comprises aplurality of coaxial elongated members, the inner of which may be asolid rod or shaft 10 provided at its inner end with a pair offrusto-conically shaped members II and Ila. A second elongated memberconsists of a hollow shaft or tube 12 that is mounted upon and guided bythe rod 10 and that carries at its inner end a pair of integralfrusto-conically shaped members 13 and 13a, identical in all respectswith the members 1| and I la. A third elongated member consists of ahollow shaft or tube I4 and that carries at its inner endfrusto-conically shaped members 15 and 15a identical with the similarmembers previously referred to. Each of the members 1 I la, 13, 13a and15, 15a. cooperates with a set of the radially extending rods 63 toforce said rods outwardly or to permit said rods to move inwardly,depending upon the positions, respectively, of the cooperating sets ofsaid members. The tapered end faces 84 of the rods 63 conform with andride upon the 6 frusto-conical surfaces of the adjacent wedgelikemember.

The rod 18 carries at its outer end a two-part bearing housing, theouter part I8 of which is stationary and is provided with an integralextension 11 having an internally threaded bore I8. The

tube 12 is similarly provided with a two-part bearing, the outer part 19of which is provided with an integral extension 88 having an internallythreaded bore 8|. The outermost tube 14 is likewise provided with atwo-part bearing, indicated at 82, the outer part 83 of which has anintegral extension through which extendsa threaded bore t4. The threadedbores I8, 8| and 84 are in alignment with each other and also with athreaded bore 85 formed in a boss 86 integral with the casing 68. Athreaded rod 81 extends through the bores 18, 8| and 84 and is threadedinto the bore 85. Said rod 81 is held against turning by means of a locknut 88 threaded on said rod into tight engagement with the end of theboss 86. A pair of nuts 89 and 89a are threadingly mounted upon the rod81 on either side of the extension TI to determine the position of thebearing part 16 and hence of the rod 10. Similarly, a pair of nuts 90and 98a are threadingly mounted upon the rod 81 to lie on either side ofthe extension 88 to determine the position of the bearing part 19 andhence of the tube 12. In much the same way, a pair of nuts 9| and Ma arethreaded upon the rod 81 to lie on either side of the extension 84 todetermine the position of the bearing 82 and hence of the tube 14.

The construction of these three bearings is best shown in Figure 1,where the bearing 82 is shown in section. Said bearing 82 comprises theouter bearing part 83 and an inner bearing part 92 that is formed on thetube 14 and therefore revolves with said tube 14. An inner bearing race93 is secured to said inner bearing part 92, and an outer bearing race94 is secured to said outer bearing part 83. Said outer bearing race 94and the outer bearing part 83 may be suitably locked together and heldin spaced relationship to the inner bearingrace 93 and inner bearingpart 92 so as to be stationary while the latter revolves. The threadedrod 81 passing, as it does, through the extensions 11, 8| and 84, servesto hold the corresponding outer bearing parts 18, 19, 83 againstrotation.

The manner of adjusting the clearances between any set of rotor elements38 and the corresponding surfaces of the abrasive lining 24 will beapparent from the foregoing description of the adjusting mechanism 82.For instance, if it were desired to increase the clearance in the caseof the set of rotor elements 38 controlled by the wedge-like members Hand 1 |a, the outer bearing part 18 associated with the rod I8 would bemoved to the left, as viewed in Figure 1, after first loosening the nut89, by then turning the nut 89a against the extension 11. The nut 89would again be tightened in place when the desired amount of movementhad occurred. As the rod 19 is moved toward the left, the radiallyextending rods or pins 63 will be caused to ride up along the conicalsurfaces of the wedge-like members H and Ha and. will thus be movedradially outwardly. Such movement will be translated through the leverassemblies, including the rocking levers 51 and links 52 to move thecorresponding trailing ends of the rotor elements 38 inwardly, andthereby increase the clearence between said trailing ends and theabrasive lining 24. If, on the other hand, it is desired to decrease theamount of clearance between any set of rotor elements and the abrasivelining 24. the corresponding set of wedge-like members would be moved tothe right, as viewed in Figure .1, to permit the corresponding rods 83to move inwardly. Upon inward movement of the rods 63, the leverassemblies connecting such rod to the trailing ends of the rotorelements 38 operate to move said trailing ends toward the surface of theabrasive lining 24.

It will be noted that during these adjustments of the clearances betweenthe rotor elements 38 and the surface of the abrasive lining 24, theradially outward distance of each pivot pin 48 from the axis of theshaft It remains constant. Consequently, the leading surfaces of therotor elements 38 retain a substantially constant relationship withrespect to the cylindrical surface of the abrasive liner 24, regardlessof the adjustment of the amount of clearance between the trailingsurfaces of the rotor elements and the surface of the abrasive lining.The result is that the clearance between the surfaces of the rotorelements 38 and of the abrasive lining 24 can be adjusted to decreasevery gradually from the leading to the trailing ends of each. rotorelement, thus facilitating the movement of the fibrous material betweensuch surfaces and insuring a gradual refining of the fibers under theaction of the gradually merging refining surfaces.

The clearance adjusting means described also permit the clearances to begradually decreased in a sequence of steps from the intake to thedischarge end of the refiner. For instance, at the intake end of therefiner, the two sets of rotor elements 38 controlled by the shaft I4may be provided with a rather large amount of clearance, the two middlesections of rotor elements controlled by the shaft 12 may be providedwith a relatively smaller amount of clearance, and the two sets of rotorelements adjacent the discharge end and controlled by the rod I may beset for a still smaller amount of clearance, thereby eflecting a gradualrefining of the fibrous material as it passes from the intake to thedischarge ends of the refiner.

The stock flow regulating plates 28 and 33 aid in the proper control'ofthe flow of stock through the refiner. The flow regulating plate 26 ispreferably positioned midway of the length of the refiner shell I I, aspace 95 (Figure 1) being provided for this purpose by a spacer ring 98inserted between the middle two ring sections of the abrasive liner 24.The plate 28 is provided with an inner annular hub portion 91 that ismounted upon a bearing ring 98 which, in turn, is secured to the hollowshaft I 0. The regulating plate 28 is thus capable of rotation relativeto the shaft I6, the same as is the flow regulating plate 33.

Both the plate 28 and the plate 33, however, are normally locked againstrelative rotation so as' to rotate with the shaft I6 during theoperation of the refiner. The purpose of providing for relative rotationof the plates 23 and 33 with respect to the shaft I6 is to permitcircumferential adjustments of the plates with respect to therotorelements 38. This purpose will be more clearly understood by referenceto Figure 3, which shows the relationship between the end feed plate 33and the adjacent set of rotor elements 38. Since the two plates 26 and33 are substantially identical in form and construction, a descriptionof plate 33 and its relationship to the adjacent set of rotor elements38 will serve also as a description of plate 26.

As illustrated in Figure 3, the plate 33 is provided with a plurality ofperipheral recesses or openings I00, the number of recesses being thesame as the number of rotor elements 38 in each set. Each of theopenings I00 includes the space between the trailing end IOI of onerotor element 38 and the leading end I of the next following rotorelement 38. Preferably, each plate opening I00 terminates just ahead ofa leading edge I02 so that the fibrous material passing through anopening I00 will be fed into the space between the leading edge I of arotor element and the surface of the abrasive lining 24.

Since it is sometimes desirable to change the relative positions of theopenings I03 with respect to the rotor elements 30, means are providedfor this purpose. The plate 33 (Figures 3 and 4) is provide with arcuateshaped openings I33 and I04 which are diametrically arranged withrespect to the axis of the shaft I0 and which are provided with toothedsegments I" and I03 along their edges nearest the axis of the shaft I3.A gear I0! is mounted for meshing engagement with the teeth I 05, and asimilar gear I03 is mounted for meshing engagement with the teeth I03.The gear I08 is mounted upon a shaft I03 (Figure l), the front end ofwhich is hexagonal shaped, as at IIO, for the reception of a socketwrench or crank and the inner end of which carries a gear III foradjustment of the stock flow regulating plate 28. At its end I II theshaft I09 is journaled in a boss '2 (Figure 4) that is formed integrallywith a wall 37 of the hollow box-like housing 35 adjacent the stock flowregulating plate 33. The other gear I0'I is similarly mounted upon ashaft (Figure 2) having a hexagonally shaped end A locking strap III isprovided for locking the shaft II3 against rotation and a similarlocking strap H6 is provided for locking the shaft I09 against rotation.Since each of the locking straps is identical, only one need bedescribed. The locking strap III is provided with a hexagonally shapedopening II! for fitting over the hexagonally milled end IIII of theshaft I09. Said locking strap I I6 is also provided with an arcuateshaped groove '3, through which extends a bolt II9 for locking saidstrap in place against the plate 33. When the bolt I I3 is screwed homeinto the plate 33, the locking strap I I 8 holds the hexagonal end IIOagainst being turned and hence locks the shaft I03 against rotation. Theplates I 33 and 26 are then also held against rotation relative to theshaft it but are free to revolve as a. lllit with said shaft and withthe rotor elements It will be apparent that in order to effect anadjustment of the plates 33 and 23, it is only necessary when therefiner is not operating to remove the discharge end plate I3, unscrewthe bolts "3 and lift off the locking straps Ill and H6, and then turneither one of the shafts I09 or II3 by means of a crank, or the like, torotate the plates 33 and 23 to their desired positions. After theadjustment has been made, the locking straps Ill and III areagain put inplace and bolted tightly against the plate 33 by means of the bolts III.It will be understood that a single shaft, such as the shaft I03, withits associated parts would be sumcient for making the adjustment of thefeed regulating plates 33 and 26, or, if desired, two shafts might beused and only one of the shafts continued through to control itself.

together, or only the feed regulating plate '33 by The purpose of theadjustment is, of course, to permit the stock openings I'M in the plates33 and 26 to be positioned at the proper points with relation to thepositions of the rotary elements 38'so as to obtain a feed of fibrousmaterial through the rotary refiner that will give optimum refiningresults.

In operation, stock is introduced into the intake l4 under the desiredamount of head, or pressure, with the rotary refiner in operation, the

vanes 30 on the plate 29 adjacent the intake end of the refiner serve tothrow the stock, or other fibrous material, outwardly and the stock isforced around the periphery of the plate 29 through the annularclearance spaces 3| into the interior of centrifugal forces set up bythe rotating elements 38 throw the stock radially outwardly between therefining surfaces of the rotor elements and the surface of the abrasivelining 24. Thus, the stock is held against the surface of the abrasivelining 24 and very little stock finds its way into the 'central portionof the shell II in back of the rotor elements 38.

In this latter connection, it will be noted that the rotor elements 38are in closely abutting relationship, except for the spacing, as at 95,between the middle set of rotor elements. The result is that the stockfiows practically exclusively between the revolving surfaces of therotor elements 38 and the stationary surface of the liner 24. Thepressure causing such flow is the pressure of stock ahead of the intakel4. Regulation of the flow of stock through the refiner is accomplished,as previously described, by the proper adjustments of the regulatingplates 26 and 33. After being refined, the stock is discharged throughthe discharge opening |8 in the end plate [3.

In order to prevent unnecessary abrasion and injury to the abrasivelining 24 or to the abrasive surfaces of the rotor elements 38, thejoints between successive ring sections of the liner 24, as at I20(Figure 1) are slightly offset with respect to the joints l2l betweenthe adjacent rotor elements spacings.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of constructionmay be varied through a wide range without departing from the principlesof this invention, and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit thepatent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of theappended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a rotary refiner for wet fibrous material,

a stationary shell having an abrasive liner, a hollow driven shaft, aplurality of sets of centrifugally acting rotor elements, means mountingsaid rotor elements from said shaft for rotation therewith, and aplurality of individually adjustable means including wedge carrying rodsextending through said hollow shaft and each externally operable whilesaid refiner is in operation to act through said mounting means tocontrol the amount of minimum clearance between each set of said rotorelements and said abrasive liner.

2. In a rotary refiner for wet fibrous material, a stationary shellhaving a cylindrical abrasive liner, a hollow driven shaft,centrifugally acting rotor elements, members ,secured to said shaft,pins carried by said members for pivotally mounting the leading portionsof said rotor elements,

lever assemblies-carried by said members for pivotally mounting thetrailing ends of said rotor elements and having rods extending radiallythrough said hollow shaft, wedge-like members within said hollow shaftbearing against the inner ends of said rods and means operable whilesaid refiner is in operation for moving said wedge-like members toadjust said rods and lever assemblies to control the amount of. minimumclearance between said rotor elements and said stator.

3. In a rotary refiner for wet fibrous material, a stationary shellhaving a cylindrical abrasive liner, a hollow driven shaft,centrifugally acting rotor elements, members secured to said shaft,

pins carried by said members for pivotally mounting the leading portionsof said rotor elements, pivotally mounted lever assemblies carried bysaid members for pivotally mounting the trailing ends of said rotorelements, rods pivotally connected to said lever assemblies andextending radially through said hollow shaft, wedge-like membersv saidrefiner is in operation for moving said wedgelike members to adjust saidrods and lever assemblies to control the amount of minimum clearancebetween said rotor elements and said stator.

4. In a rotary refiner for wet fibrous material, a stationary shellhaving a cylindrical abrasive liner, a hollow driven shaft,centrifugally acting rotor elements, members secured to said shaft, pinscarried by said members for pivotally mount ing the leading portions ofsaid rotor elements, lever assemblies carried by said members forpivotally mounting the trailing ends of said rotor elements and havingrods extending radially through said hollow shaft, wedge-like memberswithin said hollow shaft bearing against the inner ends of said rods andelongated members connected to said wedge-like members and extendingaxially of said hollow shaft and operable while said refiner is inoperation for moving said wedgelike members to adjust said rods andlever assemblies to v control the amount of minimum clearance betweensaid rotor elements and said stator.

5. In a rotary refiner for wet fibrous material, a stationary shellhaving a cylindrical abrasive liner, a hollow driven shaft,centrifugally acting rotor elements, hollow box-like housings secured tosaid shaft, pins carried by said housings for pivotally mounting theleading portions of said rotor elements, lever assemblies carried bysaid housings for pivotally mounting the trailing ends of said rotorelements and having rods extending radially through said hollow shaft,wedge-like members within said hollow shaft bearing against the innerends of said rods and means operable whilesaid refiner is in operationfor moving said wedge-like members to adjust said rods and leverassemblies to control the amount of minimum clearance between said rotorelements and said stator.

6. A rotary refiner for the refining of wet fibrous material, whichcomprises a stationary shell having a cylindrical abrasive lining, ahollow driven shaft co-axial with said lining, hollow box-like housingssecured to said shaft, rotor elements for cooperation with said liningto effect a refining action, pins secured in said housings for pivotallymounting the leading portions of said rotor elements, lever assembliespivotally fulcrumed in said housings and pivotally connected'to thetrailing portions of said rotor elements, pins pivotally 11 connected tosaid lever assemblies and extending radially into said hollow shaft,conically shaped members within said shaft cooperating with the innerends of said pins, concentric elongated members connected to saidconically shaped members, means associated with said elongated membersand externally operable to move the same acting through said pins andlever assemblies to adjust the clearance between said rotor elements andsaid abrasive lining, means for introducing and discharging fibrousmaterial into and from said shell. and feed plates for distributing thefibrous material about the inner periphery of said shell between saidrotor elements and said lining.

7. A rotary refiner for the refining of wet fibrous material, whichcomprises a stationary shell having a cylindrical abrasive lining, ahollow driven shaft coaxial with said lining, hollow boxlike housingssecured to said shaft, rotor elements for cooperation with said liningto effect a refining action, pins secured in said housings for pivotallymounting the leading portions of said rotor elements, lever assembliespivotally fulcrumed in said housings and pivotally connected to thetrailin portions of said rotor elements, pins pivotally connected tosaid lever assemblies and extending radially into said hollow shaft,conically shaped members within said shaft cooperating with the innerends of said pins, concentric elongated members connected to saidconically shaped members, means associated with said elongated membersand externally operable to move the same acting through said pins andlever assemblies to adjust the clearance between said rotor elements andsaid abrasive lining, and means for introducing and discharging fibrousmaterial into and from said shell.

8. In a rotary refiner for wet fibrous material, a stationary shellhaving an intake and outlet and provided with cylindrical abrasivelining, rotor elements mounted for outward movement into refiningrelationship with said lining, feed plates having peripheral openingsfor the admission of material to be refined between said rotor elementsand said lining, and means accessible from one end of said shell forrotating said feed plates to change the positioning of said peripheralopenings.

9. In a rotary refiner for wet fibrous material, a stationary shell, adriven shaft rotatable in said shell, a plurality of sets ofcentrifugally acting rotor elements carried by said shaft forcooperation with said stationary shell in efi'ecting a refining action,means pivotally mounting the leading portion of each of said rotorelements from said shaft, and means externally operable along said shaftand operatively connected to the trailing portions of said rotorelements to control individually the amount of minimum clearance betweeneach set of said rotor elements and said stationary shell. said meansincluding a plurality of individually adjustable telescoping membersmounted for rotation in said shell and a sleeve portion movable from theexterior of said shell and associated with each member for moving saidmember axially of said shaft and for rotatable movement relativethereto, whereby said telescoping members may be adjusted axially ofsaid shaft while said refiner is in operation.

10. In a rotary refiner for wet fibrous material. a stationary shellhaving a cylindrical abrasive lining, a hollow driven shaft.centrifugally acting rotor elements, members secured to said shaft, pinscarried by said members for pivotally mounting the leading portions ofsaid rotor elements. lever assemblies carried by said members forpivotally mounting the trailing ends of said rotor elements and havingrods extending radially through said hollow shaft, and individuallyadjustable telescoping means mounted for rotation in said shell havingwedge-like portions bearing against the inner ends of said rods, andsleeve members movable from the exterior of said shell and associatedwith each telescoping member for moving each of said members axially ofsaid shaft and for rotatable movement relative thereto.

EDMUND P. ARPIN, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 939,769 Williams Nov. 9, 1909939,774 Williams Nov. 9, 1909 1,072,058 Sturtevant Sept. 2, 19131,306,772 Plaisted June 17, 1919 1,651,372 Carline Dec. 6, 19271,689,190 Arpin Oct. 30, 1928 1,714,752 Arpin May 28, 1929 .1 854.652Kirchner et a1 Apr. 19. 1932

